meeriam



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' H. G. MERRIAM.

KNAPSAGK.

Patented May 3,-18871 INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

Nv PETERS. PhulwUKllogmVher, Washin ton. DA:

(N0 Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. '0. MERRIAM. KNAPSAGK.

No. 362,302. Patented May 3, 18 87.-

. INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet s.

' H. (3."MERRIAM.

KNAPSAOK.' I

Patented May 3, 1887'.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICEo HENRY o. 'MERRIA'M, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

KNAPsRc SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,302, dated May 3, 1887.

' Application filed February 3, 1886. Serial No. 190,726. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. MERRIAM, of the United-States Army, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knapsacks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the construction of that class of knapsacks forming the subjectmatter of Letters Patent No. 204,066, granted to me on the 21st day of May, 1878, and also to the construction of that class of knapsackstraps shown in said Letters Patent and in Letters Patent No. 17 8,545, granted to me June 13, 1876, the main objects of the invention being to improve and simplify theform of pack and to render the equipment adjustable to all sizes and forms of men.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a view of my improved knapsack asit appears when applied to the person. Fig. 2-is a perspective view of the pack and its equipment. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on linema: of'Fig. 2, the pack alone being shown. Fig. 4 is aview of the back of the pack, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, A represents 'the pack, which is formed upon an angle-ironframe, B, arranged upon the inner or that face of the pack which is adjacent to the back of the wearer. The frame B is rectangular, but the vertical arms b b are slightly curved, in orderv that when the pack is slung to place, as shown in'Ffig. 1,the said innerface will approximate iron extends between the irons b b, -eted to said irons,

the contourof the wearers back. The crossbeing rivand this iron 0 actsas a support fora flexible partition, 0, which is riveted to the iron 0, and also to the outer wall of the pack, which outer wall is slightly stilfened by means of any-proper stifiening mate-- rial, such as leather'or pasteboard.

The pack is closed by flaps that are fastened to the frame-B -'by rivets a a, the lower flap, D, being formed to close the lower compartment of the pack and to be' held'in the closed position bythongs d d, which, when adjusted toa "properlengtm may be caught over hooks c e, that are fixed to the irons b b. The sale flaps, E E, are tied together over the flap D, while the upper flap, F, folds down over the flaps E E, and is held in place by a strap, f, 5 which is passed through a loop, f", that isfixed to the cross-iron c, an opening being formed in the flap D, as shown. .The strap f engages with a buckle, g, fixed to the bottom ot the pack, so that when the flaps have been ad 6 j usted, as described, they will be securely held in place, and as the outer face of the pack is permanently closed it will be readlly appreciated that the contents of the pack will be most effectually protected from the weather. 6 5- This pack is supported by two side braces,'S

S, that are stepped in socketsNN, llustrated in detail in Fig. 5,) said sockets being carried by the forward ends of the hip-strap T, the connection between the pack and s de braces 7o being made by means of strapsUV,t-he weight of the pack being supported by the straps Y which are also used to adjustthe position at the pack vertically, while the straps U are used to adjust the angle of the bracesS S. The

- tion of the shoulder straps M M, which, in-

stead of extending directly downward to engage with buckles carried by the hlp-straps, are cut ofl at-n and provided with connect1ngstraps m m, connection between the two being made by means of rivets o 0, so that should either of. the side braces becomelost orbroken thestraps m m may be brought into engageo ment with the buckles p 10, thereby providlng an arrangement for temporarily carrying the pack, and as the'connection between the straps M and m is made by means of the rivets o the straps M will not betwistcd or distorted from their normal fiat position. It will also be noticed that the straps MM are riveted to the frame B at the top of the pack.

' In Fig. '5 I illustrate an improved form of socket for stepping the side braces, S S,whererco in h is a shield, to which the endof the hipstrap T-and the end of the connecting-strap mi security being obtained by to be forced out of shape,

are connected, the endsof said straps being cut at an angle to correspond with the angle of the socket proper. A guard-plate, 7c, is stitchedupon the shield h, the stitches ex ending through the ends of the straps'T m, pe feet rivets s s, passed through'the shield, the straps, and the plate. The plate It is put on over the former, shaped to correspond with the beveled end t of the side braces, S, which ends are the ones stepped in the sockets; and as the braces are rectangular in cross-section, it follows from the construction described that the socketsa're not liable so as to produce a bunch upon the under side of the shield h, so that a'flat surface is always presented to the person of the wearer of the equipment.

Referring now to Fig. 4, .it will be seen I provide straps L L, arranged so as to hold theblanket P in the position shown, while other straps, K K, are arranged to hold the over coatJ. If the overcoat is not to be carried upon the pack, the ends of the blanket P may be caught up by the straps K. One of the straps L extends across the back of the pack, and is secured thereto by rivets, and, not being very tightly stretched, aflords a means for the attachment of any loose articles which the wearer desires to carry and which are too bulky to be placed within the pack. -By forming the partition 0 of flexible material I am able to provide a pack wherein ance of material may be-packed' in either of the compartments, as desired, it being understood that the lower, compartment is designed more particularly receptacle, while the upper compartment is designed for the reception of clothes and extra cartridges. 'lhe straps q g, which are fura preponderas a haversack or rationnished with combined snap-hooks and buckles q, are designed to support the cartridge-boxes. With such a pack and supporter as has been described a large proportion of the weight s -thrown directly upon the strong bones of the hips, thus relieving the shoulders and the spinal column from strain and preventing all pressure upon the shoulder-blades, thereby leaving'the shoulders and arms entirely free r for action, and preventing all undue compression of the nerves and vessels of the armpits, and consequently preventing numbness and swelling ofthe hands. It will also be not1ced that all cross-belts are done away with, so

connected to the forward ends of the hip-strap and to the pack, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a knapsack, of

- side braces adj ustably connected thereto,a hi pstrap adjustable at the back, and shoulderstraps connected to the forward ends of the hip strap, substantially as described.

3. A knapsack formed upon a metallic frame,said frame consisting of light outer irons and'a central cross angle-iron, substantial! y as described.

HENRY C. MERRIAM.

Witnesses: I

JAMES H. GRIDLEY, Some; 0. KEMoN. 

